“The truest test of who we are is what we do when we think no one is watching.” (Copied)
What would happen if someone followed us for one week… 24/7… and discerned from our actions what Christianity was all about? Would they be drawn to Christ… confused when comparing our conduct with the Scripture… or walk away from the Christian faith? Then, what if they were also able to know our thoughts along with our actions (They’d know if we were genuine or fake by our thoughts!)
Would we hesitate to tell people, to encourage them, to watch… listen… follow… observe and then decide if Christ was real BASED ON OUR CONDUCT?
That is EXACTLY what Paul encouraged people to do with him! Watch him… follow him… IMITATE him. Then they would see that Christ is real, does save, does provide, and worth following. As he wrote…
2 Thess 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us…
2 Thess 3:9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
1 Cor 4:16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
1 Cor 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Phil 3:17 Brothers, join in imitating me…
Phil 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things…
From that point he encouraged Timothy and Titus to do the same thing so they could offer the same encouragement to others he offered to them.
1 Tim 4:12 Set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
Titus 2:7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned…
Paul wasn’t the only one who gave this command. Peter wrote…
1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
Maybe we need to quit judging and condemning Hillery/Trump/Others and focus instead on ourselves. Maybe we need to work at sanctification, holiness, and godliness.